1. The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 2005 Sylvia Hurtado & John H. Pryor January 26, 2006 Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) Graduate School of Education & Information Studies University of California, Los Angeles http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/heri/heri.html

2. CIRP Surveys Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) established in 1966 at American Council on Education CIRP transferred to UCLA in 1973 40 th Anniversary of CIRP in 2006 Examination of long-term trends in college students Data used for policy analysis, human resource planning, campus administration, educational research, guidance and counseling

3. CIRP Surveys Freshman Survey Your First College Year (YFCY) End of first year College Student Survey (CSS) End of any college year 77% of institutions survey at end of senior year Survey instruments Used in conjunction for longitudinal purposes Revised annually to reflect changing concerns

4. 2005 Freshman Norms Based on weighted responses of 263,710 students at 385 4-year colleges and universities Data statistically adjusted to reflect responses of 1.3 million first-time, full-time students 87.5% median institutional participation rate

5. Presentation Outline Social & Civic Responsibility Political Views and Participation Drinking in High School Religious Views and Participation College-Going Decisions First-Generation College Students

6. Social and Civic Responsibility

7. Social & Civic Responsibility Convergence of multiple measures of social concerns and civic responsibility behaviors Increases in beliefs and behaviors among incoming first-year students

8. Social & Civic Responsibility 2005Change from 2004 Important to Help others in difficulty66.3% (highest in 25 years) +3.9 Participate in community action programs25.6% (highest since 1996) +4.1 Become a community leader33.9%+3.2 Influence social values41.3%+3.0

9. Social & Civic Responsibility 2005Change from 2004 Participate in community service As a high-school senior83.2%+1.1 Intent to participate in college (some chance) 67.3%+2.0

10. Social & Civic Responsibility Such freshman attitudes can have a positive impact on their communities Community service is correlated with higher scores on critical thinking, perspective taking, complex thinking, & self-confidence

11. Political Views & Participation

12. Military Issues 65.8 % – Disagree that “federal military spending should be increased” 63.1% – Agree that “only volunteers should serve in the armed forces”

13. Political Views & Participation 63.0%– “Dissent is a critical component of the political process” 49.7% – Participated in organized demonstration during high school Highest percentage in survey history

14. Political Views & Participation 36.4% – Important or essential to keep up-to-date with political affairs

15. Political Views & Participation 12.0 percent – Worked in local, state, or national political campaign

16. Political Views & Participation Possible response to 2004 and 2005 election activity Greater relevance to age group, greater access to online venues for political involvement (moveon.com)

17. Drinking Behavior

18. 43.4% -lowest in survey history High was 1982, at 73.7%

19. Drinking Behavior Men Women 49.1% men 38.8% women

20. Religious Views & Participation

21. Religious participation is down 79.6% – Attended religious services frequently or occasionally during senior year in high school, down since high of 85.4% in 1997 62.6% – Pray or meditate on a weekly basis, down from the high of 66.9 in 1996 17.4% – No religious preference, up from 8.3% in 1978

22. Religious Views & Participation

23. 35.0% – Frequently discussed religion during senior year in high school, up 5.4 percentage points from 2003 Possible reflection of increased discussions about political implications of religion

24. Religious Views & Participation

25. Motivations for College Attendance

26. Women more likely to report issues related to personal and intellectual development Men more likely to report making more money is important (although gap is closing)

27. Motivations for College Attendance All % Men % Women % Difference % Why Attend College? - To learn more about things that interest me77.773.181.4+8.3 - To be able to get a better job72.272.172.2+0.1 - To be able to make more money71.073.569.0-4.5 - To get training for a specific career69.464.873.1+8.3 - To gain a general education and appreciation of ideas65.458.371.1+12.8 - To prepare for graduate/professional school58.151.363.5+12.2 - To find my purpose in life51.744.657.4+12.8 - To make me a more cultured person42.535.348.3+13.0 Gender Differences in Selected Reasons for Attending College

28. Motivations for College Attendance Men Women

29. College-Going Decisions

30. 43.7% cite “parents wanted me to go” as a very important reason

31. College-Going Decisions Why go to any college? 21.7% – to get away from home 8.7% in 1978 Why pick your particular college? 18.7% – Living near home was very important reason in selecting college All-time high

32. College-Going Decisions Parental influence at both ends of the spectrum Students go to college near home Students go to college to get away from home

33. College-Going Decisions

34. First-Generation College Students

35. First-generation students Students whose parents have had no college or university experiences 15.9 percent of total 16.9 percent female 14.7 percent male Strong correlation between parents’ education and likelihood of attending and graduating from college

36. First-Generation College Students Public institutions: 17.5 percent Private institutions: 12.8 percent Four-year colleges: 18.5 percent Universities: 11.9 percent

37. First-Generation College Students Annual family incomes below $25k 29.4% first generation 9.2% non-first-generation High school GPA of “A- or higher” 37.4% first generation 48.3% non-first-generation

38. First-Generation College Students First-generation students more likely to attend college closer to home College 50 miles or fewer from home? 49.9% First generation 35.5% Non-first generation

39. College-Going Decisions

41. More first generation students place importance on family, role models, and educators when deciding on college attendance.

42. College-Going Decisions Plan to live off campus as first-year student? 30.7% First generation 16.0% Non-first generation

43. College-Going Decisions

47. First-Generation College Students Unique set of concerns and expectations Institutions need to understand and validate needs and concerns of first-generation students if they are to help students transition to college and achieve educational goals

48. Challenges and Opportunities for a Liberal Education Students’ predispositions at college entry inform choices of peers, coursework, and activities Unique opportunity to further enhance citizenship engagement in college with 2005 cohort Distinct differences in orientations indicate receptivity to liberal education ideals—special challenge of monetary gain versus personal/intellectual development Assist first generation students in navigating the physical, social, and intellectual geographies of a campus

49. For more information: A copy of “The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 2005, press release, research brief, ppt slides: http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/heri/heri.htm http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/heri/heri.htm Register for the 2006 CIRP Freshman Survey www.gseis.ucla.edu/heri/cirp_register.html